The 33rd Bellingen Eel Fishing Championships is on from Monday September 30 until Sunday October 6 - finishing up with a free barbecue at Connell Park. This event has proven very popular over the years and is terrific family fun - an excellent way to keep the kids amused during the holidays. Young and "not so young" competitors are welcome to enter. Eel fishing is heaps of fun and very challenging as eels can be very lively - in fact there is a special prize given away each day for Liveliest Eel. There is also a trophy for the Biggest Eel each day. This is strictly a Catch &amp; Release Competition so make sure you keep the eels in a bucket of water so they are full of energy - we will give you aerators to use and all eels will be released back into the river each day after the weigh-in. George Edmund Park on the northern end of the Bellingen Bridge is the weigh-in station at 5pm sharp each day. For those competitors under 16 - the "Waterhole Wal" Perpetual Trophy is on offer and will be presented to the person who catches the Biggest Eel during the week of competition - the Australian record is held by Bellingen boy Jai Tennant who caught a real beauty in 2009 weighing in at a massive 11.65kg. Registration is only $2 for under 16s and $5 for seniors and this covers your barbecue dinner &amp; Presentation of Awards as well. Registration is payable when you weigh in your first eel. More info: Wal Tyson 6655 1072.

The 33rd Bellingen Eel Fishing Championships

The 33rd Bellingen Eel Fishing Championships is on from Monday September 30 until Sunday October 6 - finishing up with a free barbecue at Connell Park. This event has proven very popular over the years and is terrific family fun - an excellent way to keep the kids amused during the holidays.

Young and "not so young" competitors are welcome to enter. Eel fishing is heaps of fun and very challenging as eels can be very lively - in fact there is a special prize given away each day for Liveliest Eel. There is also a trophy for the Biggest Eel each day.

This is strictly a Catch & Release Competition so make sure you keep the eels in a bucket of water so they are full of energy - we will give you aerators to use and all eels will be released back into the river each day after the weigh-in. George Edmund Park on the northern end of the Bellingen Bridge is the weigh-in station at 5pm sharp each day.

For those competitors under 16 - the "Waterhole Wal" Perpetual Trophy is on offer and will be presented to the person who catches the Biggest Eel during the week of competition - the Australian record is held by Bellingen boy Jai Tennant who caught a real beauty in 2009 weighing in at a massive 11.65kg.

Registration is only $2 for under 16s and $5 for seniors and this covers your barbecue dinner & Presentation of Awards as well. Registration is payable when you weigh in your first eel.